2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship Winner: Sherman Calhoun

The St. Louis Sports Commission Associates Sportsmanship Scholarship awards $5,000 to a deserving St. Louis area high school graduating senior who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship in athletic competition. We were fortunate to not only issue the $5,000 award, but we were also able to issue three additional $1,000 scholarships to deserving student athletes as well. All of their stories will be published here. 

We now present the third of our three $1,000 scholarship winners - Mr. Sherman Calhoun.

Sherman Calhoun competed in track and field as a sophomore, but the gridiron was his true home in four years at Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School. Sherman is the embodiment of the saying, "Tough times don’t build character, they reveal it.” During his senior year, CBC lost to rival DeSmet in the district playoffs, bringing the Cadets’ season to an abrupt end. Sherman described the contest as “the hardest game” he’s ever played. After the game, a heartbroken Sherman did something practically unheard of in football. He walked over to the DeSmet sideline and congratulated each of the players and coaches and wished them luck in the next round. 

It’s common for teams to meet at midfield for the obligatory handshake after a game. But Sherman went a step further, showing tremendous class and respect for his opponent. It was a remarkable display of sportsmanship. Sherman’s loyalty and character extended beyond this game and throughout his high school sports career. One of his coaches noted that Sherman is respected by his peers because he gives them respect. The coach called Sherman one of his favorite players because of his contagious smile and tremendous spirit. Sherman is continuing his education at Lincoln University.

Read More

2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship Winner: Katie Ringhausen

The St. Louis Sports Commission Associates Sportsmanship Scholarship awards $5,000 to a deserving St. Louis area high school graduating senior who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship in athletic competition. We were fortunate to not only issue the $5,000 award, but we were also able to issue three additional $1,000 scholarships to deserving student athletes as well. All of their stories will be published here. 

We now present the second of our three $1,000 scholarship winners - Ms. Katie Ringhausen.

Katie Ringhausen participated in track and field as a freshman, but her love of golf catapulted her to new heights during her four years at Francis Howell High School. She played in two state championships and was the No. 2 ranked player on the team her senior year. The only thing consistently better than Katie’s scores was her character. Katie penalized herself for the smallest of infractions – even those unbeknownst to her competitors. She always used her counting device to keep an accurate number of strokes during play. 

Katie displayed great sportsmanship in a particular match when her competitor ran out of golf balls, which would result in the player’s disqualification. Rather than take the easy win, Katie gave the opponent a sleeve of her own golf balls which allowed her to finish the round. Katie has been recognized multiple times for outstanding sportsmanship on the state and conference levels. She is continuing her education at the University of Central Missouri.

Read More

2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship Winner: Blake Dryer

The St. Louis Sports Commission Associates Sportsmanship Scholarship awards $5,000 to a deserving St. Louis area high school graduating senior who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship in athletic competition. We were fortunate to not only issue the $5,000 award, but we were also able to issue three additional $1,000 scholarships to deserving student athletes as well. All of their stories will be published here.

We now present the first of our three $1,000 scholarship winners - Mr. Blake Dryer.

Blake Dryercompeted in baseball, basketball and track and field while at Rockwood Summit High School. Blake’s basketball coach described him as “soft-spoken, respectful, hard-working, and highly coachable.” This stellar attitude was challenged during a varsity basketball tournament when the level of physical play became intense. An opposing player elbowed Blake under his eye causing an injury that required stitches. Later in the game, the player who injured Blake found himself on the floor after a hard foul by one of Blake’s teammates. Showing great class, Blake, with butterfly tape over his eye, reached down to help his fallen opponent up. Officials complimented Blake on the selfless act.  

It’s no surprise that Blake was recognized with the Outstanding Sportsmanship Award from the Missouri State High School Activities Association. In his junior year, Blake persevered during a challenging time as his father fought through a devastating Lymphoma diagnosis. On the court, he kept his emotions in check, never allowing the adversity of the situation to affect his interactions with teammates, opponents or officials. Although Blake is not competing at the collegiate level, he said he does plan to participate in intramurals and intends to continue to set an example of sportsmanship for others to follow. Blake is continuing his education at Rockhurst University.

Read More

2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship Winner: Brianne Ebenroth

The St. Louis Sports Commission Associates Sportsmanship Scholarship awards $5,000 to a deserving St. Louis area high school graduating senior who exhibits outstanding sportsmanship in athletic competition. We were fortunate to not only issue the $5,000 award, but we were also able to issue three additional $1,000 scholarships to deserving student athletes as well. All of their stories will be published here. 

Without further delay, we first present our $5,000 scholarship winner - Ms. Brianne Ebenroth.

Brianne Ebenrothis a multi-sport athlete who participated in cross country, basketball and soccer during her four years at St. Dominic High School. Although she competed in several sports, it was soccer she excelled in. Brianne garnered multiple all-St. Louis, all-conference and all-state honors. She earned a full athletic and academic scholarship to Drury University. 

But prior to her senior season, Brianne was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), which causes chronic fatigue and other symptoms. Because of the illness, she was no longer able to play at such a high level. Faced with this reality, she opted to return the scholarship so that Drury could use the funds for another deserving player. It was a tremendously classy, selfless and mature decision. 

Even with the medical condition, Brianne made the most of her senior season at St. Dominic. With Brianne as its captain, the school’s soccer team won its second consecutive state title. In the championship game, with three minutes to go and St. Dominic up 2-0, Brianne asked her coach to substitute her for any teammates who had not yet played. 

St. Dominic Director of Athletics Jim Welby said, “Despite being her last competitive soccer game ever, Bri even wanted to take herself out so her teammates could have the memory forever. She had the foresight, compassion and sportsmanship to think past the moment and think about her teammates in the biggest game and moment of the year.” Brianne is continuing her education at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Read More

Youth baseball teams prove it really doesn't matter who wins

The Sportsmanship Brigade wrapped up the youth baseball season with a trip to the 6th grade CYC Closed Division Championship on Saturday afternoon. Look closely at the picture below. It contains both the champion and the runner-up. Can you tell which is which? I'll give you a moment. Maybe try humming the music from Jeopardy while you figure it out.

Both the champion and the runner-up came from the same parish. Immaculate Conception-Dardenne (ICD) fielded two 6th grade boys teams this season and both advanced to the championship game. The smiling faces in the picture signify what youth sports are all about. Sure, each team of boys wanted to win, but in the end, it was about having fun.

Don't think the picture is staged, either. These kids played hard and had a great time. They showed great respect for each other, their coaches and they represented their families and parish very well. One parent said, "Too bad someone had to lose in this game." I quickly replied, "Nobody lost. Look at the kids." She agreed by saying, "You're right. These boys had a blast!"

Why not add to the celebration? Pizza for everybody courtesy of the Brigade. Congratulations to the entire ICD community.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130.

Read More

Free Missouri Valley Conference Youth Sports Clinic

The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) is hosting a FREE sports clinic for kids this Saturday, July 27 from 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. inside the beautiful Danis Field House on the campus of St. Louis University High School. This clinic is open to children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Each kid will be partnered with a student-athlete from an MVC school and participate in each of four stations which will include drills for soccer, basketball, football and track and field.

Please click here to download the registration form. Space is limited. So, register ASAP. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my good friend Kristin Gregory at the MVC. You can call her at 314-444-4315 or email kgregory@mvc.org. Don't be the one who missed this great opportunity!

Read More

Youth brawl at Disney World

Walt Disney World hosted the finals of the Disney Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament between Orlando FC/QPR Academy and Pachuca Academy of Miami last weekend. Orlando won a close match, but witnesses say Pachuca did not take the loss well and rushed the field. Kids, parents and even grandparents joined in the melee. WSVN-TV filed the following story (email subscribers click here).

WSVN-TV -

Granted, there should have never been a fight. Teens of this age should be able to control their emotions. However, adults always make it worse when they start throwing punches. Why were adults exchanging blows with kids? Why was someone's grandpa on the field doing anything with a pacemaker in his chest? These incidents continue to happen because adults choose to add fuel to the fire rather than smother it.

This one is definitely on the parents and grandparents. Instead of breaking kids up and helping them off the ground, these adults chose to encourage fighting and help knock kids down. It's pretty bad when a kid has to get carted off on a stretcher at Disney World.

Read More

What to tell your kids about Ryan Braun

Ryan Braun, an outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers and former National League MVP, was suspended for the remainder of the 2013 baseball season yesterday after being found in violation of Major League Baseball's joint drug treatment and prevention program. The suspension will cost Braun 65 games and roughly $3 million in salary.

The same question seems to always come up when an athlete gets caught up in drugs or some other illegal situation: What do we tell our kids? That's easy. Tell them the same thing you did when Chris Kelly of the rap duo Kriss Kross died earlier this year. Maybe you mentioned how rap star Lil' Wayne made multiple trips to the hospital after it was widely circulated he may have overdosed on the popular codeine syrup or sizzurp.

Surely, you talked with your kids about how pop legends Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson died. Better yet, you did have that sit-down with your kids to talk about why Glee star Cory Montieth passed away last week, didn't you? Uh oh, you didn't, huh? Let's get back to what Ryan Braun was busted for. Then, we'll address the other stuff.

The specific performance-enhancing drug Braun is accused of using doesn't matter much. Sports media types call all performance-enhancing drugs or PEDs steroids whether they are actually steroids or not. What matters are the effects these drugs have on the human body when abused. PEDs can damage the heart, liver, kidneys and other vital organs when abused.

They can cause girls to grow thick facial hair, develop deep voices, and have a whole host of reproductive and breast health related issues. Boys can fall victim to organ damage as well - not to mention the permanent damage they can do to their own reproductive systems by abusing PEDs. Yes, I said permanent damage. Parents and coaches, I'll let you fill in the blanks.

Tell your kids Ryan Braun used drugs and he cheated the game of baseball. Be sure to also tell them he needs help. As adults, we tend to not see things that way. We differentiate between the drugs that can make you rich and the ones that can make you poor. Aside from the fact that they didn't have to steal money from anyone to finance their drug usage - Ryan Braun, Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong and others exhibit similar traits to those who abuse recreational drugs.

Each has lied to and on investigators, family, friends and the media. They gave half-hearted apologies and still play the victim while admitting to mistakes. Tell your kids that PEDs won't turn you into a superstar. There isn't a substance on Earth that will turn your Bruce Banner into The Incredible Hulk. Barry Bonds was born great. His PED usage made him an all-time great.

No amount of PEDs will enable your kid to run down Usain Bolt. He won't be 5'5 and be able to dunk on LeBron. He still won't be strong enough to run through Jason Pierre-Paul. Tell your kids to workout, practice hard and learn everything they can from their coaches.

And when you're done, talk to your kids about the greater threat - recreational drugs. Kids can't get PEDs from their friends or at the gym. The big guy in the skullcap isn't prowling around the gym looking for kids to take a "hit" of steroids. People get PEDs from athletic trainers, doctors and from labs like Biogenesis and BALCO.

On the other hand, kids can find recreational drugs without looking hard. Their existence is pervasive in schools, at parties, on street corners and in many households. Recreational drugs have derailed more careers and lives than there is room to mention in this space. Tell your kids that drugs make you lose control and you can't be a great athlete or person if you're out of control. Tell your kids there are no shortcuts. Anything worth having in life is worth working for.

Read More

The Adventures of Sportsmanship Guy: Vol.1, Ep. 1

I have always dreamed of being a superhero. Superman's my favorite. Batman's a close second. I'll never be either of those guys, but I think I've settled into my current role quite nicely. Just call me Sportsmanship Guy. My navy blue polo-style shirt, khaki pants and backpack make me easily identifiable to the citizens of Youthtropolis (my name for the community of people involved in youth sports).

Every hero has a power source. Superman's source is the sun. Batman's is his utility belt. The source of Sportsmanship Guy's power is in his backpack. Yes, it's the backpack. The contents of which are vital to Sportsmanship Guy and his entire Sportsmanship Brigade. Inside are postcards that identify the Brigade to the citizens of Youthtropolis. It also contains certificates and numerous gift cards to be awarded to those citizens who uphold the principles of sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship Guy and his Brigade attended the first round of the CYC baseball playoffs over the weekend. Of particular interest was a seventh grade contest between Sacred Heart of Florissant and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. This was baseball as it was meant to be played - good pitching, timely hitting, and outstanding defense. Baseball purists would have been proud of these boys.

No one yelled at the umpires or the kids. No helmets were thrown and no one got ejected. Fans of both teams cheered loudly for their boys, but did nothing to discourage the other side. Sacred Heart advanced to the second round, but both teams are winners. We rewarded both teams for their efforts. What can I say? Sportsmanship Guy is a sucker for an all-out team effort.

Sacred Heart of Florissant

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Just so no one thinks I'm a raving egomaniac, the kids of Sacred Heart bestowed the moniker of Sportsmanship Guy on me. I always explain to the kids who I am and why they're getting an award every time we go out. I usually say, "You don't know who I am, but..." About five or so kids from the Sacred Heart team stopped me mid-spiel and said, "We know who you are!" Another kid explained, "You're the sportsmanship guy! You've been to our basketball and volleyball games before. Did we do something good?" Yes, they did and their parents and coaches should be proud of them.

The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who attend youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, coaches, parents, fans and officials who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more on the Brigade, including scheduling and volunteering information, please visit sportsmanship.org or call 314-345-5130.

Read More

Join #TeamBigSol for Trivia Night

JJK is on #TeamBigSol

I want you to join me for the St. Louis Sports Commission Associates Trivia Night on Saturday, August 24 at The Heights in Richmond Heights in suburban St. Louis. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the trivia begins at 7 p.m. Beer, wine and soda will be provided. You and your friends are welcome to bring any food you like.

Each table of eight costs $200 and I want to fill 5 tables with #TeamBigSol supporters. This breaks down to $25 per person. You'll have a great time and go a long way toward helping a deserving young person achieve his/her educational goals. There are a wide range of categories. So, you won't be stuck if you're not a walking sports almanac.

If you'd like to purchase a table and recruit seven friends of your own to complete the team, then click here. If you don't care who's on your team, as long as you're on #TeamBigSol, call me directly at 314-345-5130 or email me at salexander@stlsports.org. Lastly, if you don't want to participate, but you want to support the scholarship, contact me and I'll be more than happy to help you. I'm counting on you. The kids are counting on you.

In the coming days, the Sports Commission will announce the recipient(s) of its 2013 Sportsmanship Scholarship. Over the past four years, the Sports Commission has awarded $20,000 in scholarships to St. Louis area high school seniors to put toward furthering their education. The Sportsmanship Scholarship requires that the recipient show outstanding sportsmanship on the field of play.

This year, the total amount awarded will exceed $25,000 and we want to award a lot more. Join #TeamBigSol and the kids will be the guaranteed winners.

Read More

Coach arrested for assault during tee ball tournament

Tee ball is among the most basic of youth sports activities. Kids who participate are usually kindergarten-aged or younger. They're not ready for live or machine pitching. Most don't hold the bat correctly and some even put their glove on the wrong hand when in the field.

This is not a commentary meant to put the kids down. Anybody who's ever coached or seen a tee ball game knows it's downright cute. They're five for goodness sake and they're getting their first taste of baseball. The score doesn't matter. Who wins doesn't matter. Parents can often be seen cheering for everything from kids catching a ball to running to the right base. You'd be surprised at the number of kids who take off for third base after hitting the ball.

But all of it is in fun and it's all meant to be cute. However, what happened in South Bend, Indiana last week defies logic and the spirit of tee ball. Watch the news story below detailing a fight between tee ball coaches (email subscribers click here).


The incident in South Bend is indicative of a recurring and disturbing narrative in youth sports: When you let anyone coach, anything can happen.

Read More

Think the kid on the other team looks older? He may be

Wonder what middle school parents said about him

Whether you were at the top of the school's Honor Roll or the last kid to turn in homework, there's one thing no kid ever wanted to do: Repeat a grade. Seems that doesn't matter much anymore in the world of high-stakes athletics where the NBA justifies the means.

Matthew Stanmyre of the Newark Star-Ledger reported on a pretty disturbing trend in youth sports earlier this week. He specifically looks at four top recruits over the past two years. Kids are intentionally repeating grades in middle school to gain an athletic advantage in high school basketball. A kid only has four consecutive years of high school eligibility. What can he do if he hasn't grown into his body or needs to work on his game?

Most people would just say that kid should work hard and things will take care of themselves. By his junior and senior years, the kid should be fine. This scenario isn't good enough for those who want to separate themselves from the pack on day one. Instead of entering high school as a 14-year-old freshman who will turn 15, a kid can enter at 15 and turn 16.

A 16-year-old freshman who's already good will look dominant among younger teammates. The young man becomes a "freshman sensation" or a "man-child" and colleges take notice. Wait a minute! A kid still has to complete four years of high school. Wouldn't this strategy backfire and create a ton of 19 and 20-year-old high school seniors?

Theoretically, yes, but high school is not necessarily a four-year proposition. High school is about credits and students are classified based on the number of credits earned. Many school districts now offer online classes and kids blaze through coursework in the summer, reclassify to their original graduating class and leave high school at 18.

Fair-minded people can argue all day about the merits of college versus the NBA, but no one ever intended for this type of manipulation to occur at the middle and high school levels. There are legitimate reasons for having a kid repeat a grade. Working on his jumper is not one of them. It makes a mockery of the educational system and is unfair to all of the kids the superstar is competing against.

How does this happen? Why do school districts allow children to repeat for athletic reasons? There is an irony in all of this, though. It appears superstar kids have no problem staying in eighth grade an extra year, but don't ask them to stay in college.

Read More

'Just' My Friend

Bye Kristin. See you soon...

Tomorrow, St. Joseph's Academy in suburban St. Louis will be the setting of a going away party for Kristin Just Folkl-Kabuarkis. The greatest athlete I've ever known will officially leave the Sports Commission. This is not about her exploits on the court. Stu Durando of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch did an awesome job chronicling the basketball career of one of the Gateway City's favorite daughters last Sunday. This post is about friendship and what you learn after the ball stops bouncing.

The title of today's post was taken from Kristin's middle name (pronounced Yoost). I figured it appropriate to mention because Kristin and I have had many conversations about names. We talked about why our parents named us what they did and why we named our kids what we did. She said she never thought she'd marry a guy from Greece. I told her I never thought I'd marry a woman I met on a blind date. Our spouses, Tassos and Madelyn, have always been OK with this strange pairing of two strange people.

Kristin and Tassos' son, Ian, was born with a severe heart ailment and they weren't sure he would make it. And if he did, what quality of life would he have? He had trouble learning to talk as a toddler. The Kristin I talked to then would have given up every point, rebound, medal and trophy just to hear her baby boy say a few words. Well, Ian made it. Not only does he talk, it seems as if he is making up for all the words he couldn't say as a toddler.

Oh, and his heart ailment...what heart ailment? The kid has energy to spare and is every bit the train-loving, rough-housing six-year-old that Kristin and Tassos always wanted. I remember the first time we went out to lunch, Kristin said, "I'm not a dainty eater. Hope you're not put off by that." Didn't matter to me. I figured she wouldn't be grossed out when I went to get my second or third plate from the pizza buffet we frequented.

We rarely talk about sports. Kristin's not consumed by her playing career or anyone else's. Some former athletes can't wait for you to ask them about their careers and what it was like. Kristin would much rather tell you about her husband's professorship at St. Louis University or how her daughter Sophia likes to play dress-up by putting on mommy's shoes. Kristin is refreshing because she has found a way to do what so many athletes fail to do. Kristin actually retired.

All athletes stop playing at some point, but few retire. Kristin doesn't sit around wishing she could have one more shot at glory. She doesn't wear her old uniform under her clothes like some superhero costume waiting for a game to break out. My friend is a legend. My friend is also a friend. She was a great support when my mother-in-law, my sister and my niece all passed away in the same year. There has never been a time that Kristin did not show up for me when she said she would - whether it was something work-related or otherwise.

We're done working together, but we're not done. Because I know she'll read this, we'll do Qdoba next time. My treat. Kristin will be successful in whatever she does going forward because she has two rare qualities not seen in athletes or people in general: She is not in awe of herself and she can move without the ball. Godspeed, my friend.

Read More

Ref stabs player to death, player's family then kills and dismembers ref

Referee Jordan Silva issued Josenir Santo Abreu a red card during a soccer match in a northern Brazil village last week. A red card means a player has been ejected from the game. Abreu did not take his punishment well. A heated argument between the two turned into a fight. This resulted in Silva pulling out a knife and stabbing Abreu in the chest.

Yes, a referee stabbed a player in the chest on the field of play.

Abreu's family and other angry fans cornered Silva and tied him up as the mortally wounded player was rushed to the hospital. Abreu died before reaching a nearby medical center. Word quickly got back to his family who still had the offending referee tied up. The angry mob, which included Abreu's family and some fans, took revenge on Silva. They stoned him to death and dismembered his body.

Yes, a player's family and a group of fans stoned a referee to death and cut his body into pieces. 

And everything from the stabbing to the stoning to the dismemberment took place on the field of play. 

The culture of sports is worsening and we must do something about it. This type of behavior can no longer be ignored. Violence has become ingrained in sports and it must be removed. I'm not talking about a tackle in football or a takedown in wrestling, either. 

No one should ever be in danger of being stabbed, stoned, shot, beaten or dismembered at a sporting event. It's not just about respecting the game anymore. It's about respecting each other as human beings. Participants in sport are treating each other more like enemies than opponents. Referees are authority figures - not authoritarian figures.

The reward of sport is greater than this incident and others like it. We must again lift the mantle of respect, integrity and civility or be crushed under the weight of selfishness, violence and apathy.

Read More

Blackhawks win Stanley Cup...raise NHL's level of class

When the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup last week, they did more than hoist a trophy. They made the Second City first in sportsmanship. The team took out a full-page ad in the Boston Globe conveying its respect for the Bruins franchise and the people of Boston. Here is the open letter in its entirety:

The third paragraph caught this blogger's eye in particular. It reads, "From Boston's political leadership to every member of the Bruins organization: from the players to the people on the streets, you demonstrated respect, good sportsmanship and a genuine love for the great game of hockey."

They are champions in attitude and aptitude. Ladies and gentlemen - your 2013 Stanley Cup Champions - the Chicago Blackhawks.

Read More

Tip of the Week: July 1, 2013

When you hear or read the same message from the same person over and over again, the message can get stale. That's how plenty of good coaches get replaced. To keep the message fresh, I've decided to include a fresh face for our new Sportsmanship Tip of the Week feature. Same great message - just someone with far more beauty and talent delivering it. And now, my lovely assistant...(email subscribers click here).

Read More